COVID-19 pandemic decreased the ophthalmic outpatient numbers and altered the diagnosis distribution in a community hospital in Taiwan: An observational study.

Chu-Yu Yen,I-Mo Fang,Hsin-Jui Lee,Shang-Hsien Yang,Huei-Fen Tang,Simone Donati

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264976

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on ophthalmic outpatient numbers and ophthalmic diagnosis distribution in a community hospital (Taipei City Hospital Zhongxiao Branch) in Taiwan. The COVID-19 pandemic period in Taiwan was defined as May 1 to July 31, 2021. Demographic data, including age, gender, and top 10 diagnoses from ophthalmic outpatients during this period, were collected. A corresponding control group from the same time in 2020 was also collected. The distribution of different diagnoses was analyzed, and the data of 10 most prominent diagnoses with decreased percentage of case numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic period were obtained. The number of cases during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased by 46.9% compared to the control group. The top three most common diagnoses were dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, and macular diseases. The 10 most prominent diagnoses with decreased number of cases during the COVID-19 pandemic were cataract, refraction & accommodation, macular degeneration, conjunctivitis, retinal detachment, vitreous body disorders, ophthalmic complications of diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, dry eye, and retinal vein occlusion. Identifying and treating these patients as scheduled may yield the highest cost-benefit effect in preventing visual loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly transmissible disease worldwide
Materials and methods In Taiwan, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) from central government released the baseline data of confirmed COVID-19 cases since January 21, 2020, when the first case appeared [24]
The possible reason for this phenomenon may be the changes in daily habits caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and people are still not ready to return to daily life, since the government just withdrew the level 3 epidemic alert on July 27, 2021 [29]

Summary

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly transmissible disease worldwide. It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020 [1, 2]. The main transmission route of SARS-CoV-2 includes direct and indirect contacts with respiratory droplets, virus in tears, and ocular secretions of infected people [3]. Based on one systemic review, the most effective way to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 includes physical distancing and use of face masks and eye protection [4]. The worries from getting infected by SARS-CoV-2 from.

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